Improvement in horse hay-rakes



fsoLoMoN Pastries orfwaraaronn, NEwYonK.

` `Letters Patent No. 112,507, dated March 7,1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN l-*IRSE HAV-RAKES.

The Schedule-referred to in these Letters I Patent and melding part of the same;

yI, SOLOMON P. SMVITH, of Waterford, in the county` -of Saratoga and State ot' New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse Hay` Rakes, of which the ibllowing is a specification.

In horse hay-rakes heretofore constructed the teeth of the drag-barshave been raised to release or dumpv the load, as also inA passing `hills and obstructions, v

against a directforce-ot"` the spring `or springs, which `constantly increases in proportion tothe height to which the drag-bars may be elevated. By this arrangement the minimum degree of pressure upon the drag-bars and teeth is obtained at their lowcstfproint-s of depression, and therefore their least degree of press- `ure must b e at their points of bearing upon the ground.

A great disadvantage results from this. As the hay accumulates upon the'teeth it tends topress upward againsththe under side ot' thedrag-bars and to lit't the points of the teeth from the ground. The space thus made between the acting points of the teeth and the ground allows a considerable portion ofthe hay to be passed or remain uugather'ed,v and also tends constantly to scatter and waste the hay already gathered Within the rake-teeth.` When any or all of the teeth `iostick up and out from the others; and it furthermore increases the work of the horse and the labor of thedriverintilting the teeth. It is the object of my invention to overcome these i difficulties and disadvantages', and i It consists in mounting the`drag-bars to the rakehead or axle in such a manner and by means or devices whchewill cause the teeth to have their maximum degree of pressureat the point of contact with the ground, `so that in elevating the teeth to dump the load, or as they rise to `pass over hills or obstructions, the force of the pressure to be overcome will (after the teeth lhave been raised a certain distance) be diminished in proportion to the degree of their elevation above the ground; This is the chief feature of my invention,

and which distinguishes it from all others of which "I have any knowledge.

` In the accompanying drawing I have ,representedI two forms of drag-bars or teeth to which my invention is applied; and in which- Figure l represents' a cross-section of the axle or rake-head, showing one form of toothed drag-bar, and its connection with the -axle in the posit-ion when at Y* workundenthe maximum force ofthe spring, and by dotted lines when the force is'excrted in a manner to balance the drag-bar and its teeth in an elevated po- 'sition upon the axle.

Figure 2 represents a similar view, showing a mod` iicationV both in the form of the toothed drag-bar and the devices which connect it with the rake-head. h

Figures Sand 4 represent atop and rear View of both these forms of tootheddrag-bars attached to a portion of the axle.l l

My invention is applicable to any construction of horse hay-rake having a' rolling axle, A, or a tilting rake-head, and, therefore, a description ofthe several parts which constitute a horse hay-rake is deemed nnnecessary here further than to state that the rolling axle A issupported upon its carrying-wheels, so'as i to be capable of being partially turned or rocked, by

suitable means under the immediate control ot' the driver, to elevate the teeth whenever it is necessary to free them from the accumulated load.

The position oi' the axle -or rake-head and the connection of the drag-bars B therewith are such as to hold the latter in an inclined position when at work, and the teeth O, which they carry, may maintain an i acute angle therewith or be curved as shown.

The teeth may be secured to the drag-bars in pairs,

vor formed in one piece with thedrag`bars, and made either of steel spring-wire or light iuiiexible rmetallic rods, as may bedeemed most useful.

Thev drag-bars are connected to-thet'axle or rakehead by means of anarm or yoke', D, the arms ofwhich are pivoted to brackets, a, secured to the axle or rake- 118ml.-

The spring E has one end connected to the yoke or drag-bar and the other to the axle or Vrake-head.

. The angle or positionfof they'oke or arm and `its re. lation tothe spring and dragbar must be such that when the teeth are down at work the force 'of the spring in pressing the teeth upon the ground will be at its maxim umdegree, and in raising the teeth either olf the ground to dump the load or inv passing obstructions, this foifce will, after the` teeth have reached a given height, gradually diminish as the line oi' tension ot the spring approaches a line coincident with one drawn through t-he pivots ofthe yoke or arm and the points oi' attachment of the spring to the drag-bar and axle or rake-head. i

It must be observed that in producing thisresult the pivots ot' the yoke or arm'must be between the points of attachment ofthe spring, and not in the line of tension thereof', when the teeth are at work raking,

as shown in the drawing.

lhe axle or rake-head need not necessarily be the tilting-har, as the means for tilting the rakes and limiting their descent in passing ruts may he independ-` ent of thc carrying-bar.

ihe connection of the spring with the rake-head may be made adjustable, so as to increase or diminish the force ot the spring, and also to adjust the line of the spring with respect to the pivots ot' the yoke.

This arrangement and connection of sprintI and yoke produce a snilicient uniform force to hold the raketeeth to the ground against the upward pressure of the hay in loading, so that the teeth are prevented from rising, the raking done cleaner and wit-hout waste, and the hay gathered without lling it with dirt.

By this means of mounting and connecting the dragbars with their springs, the latter are subjected to no increasing tensile-strain by the elevation of the dragbars abovea given height, and are less liable t be broken or lose their force.

By my invention teeth of cheaper material may be used, as the element of elasticity` is not requisite, thus dispensing with spring-steel teeth.

1 dotnet confine myselfvto the particular construction and arrangement of the devices represented for connecting the drag-bars to the axle or rake-head, but to vary these things to adapt them to different forms of horse hay-mires, so long as the principal feature of diminishing instead of increasing the force of the spring by the rising of the drag-bars or teeth above a given height is maintained and carried out.

The drag-bars may be connected to their yokes in any convenient manner, and the proportions ot' the letter may be varied according to the manner ot' such attachment, the principle of operation being such as to hold the teeth down with increased pressure, but release them from such pressure as the tensile line of thc spring approaches and is coincident with the pivots ot' the yoke, like a toggle or knee-joint.

Having described my invention, y I claimv 1. The teeth C, drag-liars B, and the teeth suppox't A of a horse hay-rake, connected with their operate as described.

SOLOMON P. SMlTL-.

Witnesses:

J. W. HAMILTON JOHNSON, A. E. H. JOHNSON. 

